2008 Global Conference and Marketplace 2008 Global Conference and Marketplace October 14-17, 2008 Hotel Porto Palacio Porto, Portugal Sponsored by: Esquel, Quick Feat international and Thai Alliance Textile Co. Ltd. The 2008 Global Conference and Marketplace, will be held October 14-17. This year’s event will be held amidst the steep, cobblestone streets of Porto, Portugal, a historic city founded in the 5th century. Porto has been an important trading port in Europe for centuries, and is the home of Port wine. It is also one of the last European textile manufacturing hubs. “Porto is an ideal location for our 2008 conference,” says Heather Hocker, Organic Exchange Events Manager. “Aside from its role as a beautiful backdrop for our informative sessions and presentations, the Porto region is major textile center in Portugal,”   We are still completing the agenda and other details of the conference, but several events are already on the schedule. A pre-conference event called “Organic Cotton: The Basics,” will take place on the first day, October 14th, and the conference week will end with tours of the mills in Famalico (in the Porto region), where high quality organic cotton yarn, textiles, and garments are already produced for both the local and export markets. This will be an opportunity for attendees to visit and understand the operations of a certified mill. The gala dinner will take place in a traditional Port Cellar where we can learn about the making of Port wine, taste different varieties, and leisurely discuss the day’s events.   The conference in Porto will mark the sixth Global Conference and Marketplace. Our event has a reputation for delivering highly relevant and practical information to participants and providing forums for industry-wide discussion on the current and future market for organic fibers. Organic Exchange works with farmers, manufacturers, and brands that comprise over 90% of the total organic cotton fiber produced and used around the world.   At the 2007 Annual Conference and Marketplace, held in Monterey, CA, Organic Exchange played host to over 350 attendees from every link in the supply chain. We expect the 2008 conference to draw an even larger crowd, and present an invaluable opportunity for learning and discussion about this growing industry. Please join us.     To make your hotel reservations, visit: www.hotelportopalacio.com and reference Organic Exchange Conference 2008. Please book early as we expect to be at full capacity. Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors: Esquel, Quick Feat International and Thai Alliance Textile Co. Ltd. If your company is interested in sponsoring the Global Conference, please contact Terry Young.     To request more details, email: conference@organicexchange.org